登陆注册
5390900000077

第77章 CHAPTER XII(5)

Fario sat down on the steps of a chapel altar, holding his head between his hands. After half an hour of Spanish reflections, he spied the squirrel, which Goddet could not refrain from giving him as a guest, playing with its tail upon a cross-beam, on the middle of which rested one of the uprights that supported the roof. The Spaniard rose and turned to his watchman with a face that was as calm and cold as an Arab's. He made no complaint, but went home, hired laborers to gather into sacks what remained of the sound grain, and to spread in the sun all that was moist, so as to save as much as possible; then, after estimating that his losses amounted to about three fifths, he attended to filling his orders. But his previous manipulations of the market had raised the price of cereals, and he lost on the three fifths he was obliged to buy to fill his orders; so that his losses amounted really to more than half. The Spaniard, who had no enemies, at once attributed this revenge to Gilet. He was convinced that Maxence and some others were the authors of all the nocturnal mischief, and had in all probability carried his cart up the embankment of the tower, and now intended to amuse themselves by ruining him. It was a matter to him of over three thousand francs,--very nearly the whole capital he had scraped together since the peace. Driven by the desire for vengeance, the man now displayed the cunning and stealthy persistence of a detective to whom a large reward is offered. Hiding at night in different parts of Issoudun, he soon acquired proof of the proceedings of the Knights of Idleness; he saw them all, counted them, watched their rendezvous, and knew of their suppers at Mere Cognette's; after that he lay in wait to witness one of their deeds, and thus became well informed as to their nocturnal habits.

In spite of Max's journeys and pre-occupations, he had no intention of neglecting his nightly employments,--first, because he did not wish his comrades to suspect the secret of his operations with Pere Rouget's property; and secondly, to keep the Knights well in hand.

They were therefore convened for the preparation of a prank which might deserve to be talked of for years to come. Poisoned meat was to be thrown on a given night to every watch-dog in the town and in the environs. Fario overheard them congratulating each other, as they came out from a supper at the Cognettes', on the probable success of the performance, and laughing over the general mourning that would follow this novel massacre of the innocents,--revelling, moreover, in the apprehensions it would excite as to the sinister object of depriving all the households of their guardian watch-dogs.

"It will make people forget Fario's cart," said Goddet.

Fario did not need that speech to confirm his suspicions; besides, his mind was already made up.

After three weeks' stay in Issoudun, Agathe was convinced, and so was Madame Hochon, of the truth of the old miser's observation, that it would take years to destroy the influence which Max and the Rabouilleuse had acquired over her brother. She had made no progress in Jean-Jacques's confidence, and she was never left alone with him.

On the other hand, Mademoiselle Brazier triumphed openly over the heirs by taking Agathe to drive in the caleche, sitting beside her on the back seat, while Monsieur Rouget and his nephew occupied the front. Mother and son impatiently awaited an answer to the confidential letter they had written to Desroches. The day before the night on which the dogs were to be poisoned, Joseph, who was nearly bored to death in Issoudun, received two letters: the first from the great painter Schinner,--whose age allowed him a closer intimacy than Joseph could have with Gros, their master,--and the second from Desroches.

Here is the first, postmarked Beaumont-sur-Oise:--

My dear Joseph,--I have just finished the principal panel- paintings at the chateau de Presles for the Comte de Serizy. I have left all the mouldings and the decorative painting; and I have recommended you so strongly to the count, and also to Gridot the architect, that you have nothing to do but pick up your brushes and come at once. Prices are arranged to please you. I am off to Italy with my wife; so you can have Mistigris to help you along. The young scamp has talent, and I put him at your disposal.

He is twittering like a sparrow at the very idea of amusing himself at the chateau de Presles.

Adieu, my dear Joseph; if I am still absent, and should send nothing to next year's Salon, you must take my place. Yes, dear Jojo, I know your picture is a masterpiece, but a masterpiece which will rouse a hue and cry about romanticism; you are doomed to lead the life of a devil in holy water. Adieu.

Thy friend, Schinner Here follows the letter of Desroches:--

My dear Joseph,--Your Monsieur Hochon strikes me as an old man full of common-sense, and you give me a high idea of his methods; he is perfectly right. My advice, since you ask it, is that your mother should remain at Issoudun with Madame Hochon, paying a small board,--say four hundred francs a year,--to reimburse her hosts for what she eats. Madame Bridau ought, in my opinion, to follow Monsieur Hochon's advice in everything; for your excellent mother will have many scruples in dealing with persons who have no scruple at all, and whose behavior to her is a master-stroke of policy. That Maxence, you are right enough, is dangerous. He is another Philippe, but of a different calibre. The scoundrel makes his vices serve his fortunes, and gets his amusement gratis; whereas your brother's follies are never useful to him. All that you say alarms me, but I could do no good by going to Issoudun.

同类推荐
  • 金箓大斋启盟仪

    金箓大斋启盟仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 南诏野史

    南诏野史

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 老残游记

    老残游记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 茶笺

    茶笺

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 通俗编

    通俗编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 火爆王爷下堂妃:替嫁小丫鬟

    火爆王爷下堂妃:替嫁小丫鬟

    “王八爷,你……给我滚!”火爆王爷步步紧逼,她险些丢了命。他是八王爷,不是王八爷!这死女人!“女人,装什么清高,竟然敢替嫁进我王府,不就是为了引本王的吗?”他残忍的笑容凝固在唇角,看着她满身的青痕……自此那一刻,她决定要报复他。传言这王爷杀人不眨眼,怪不得将军府的小姐誓死不嫁,却让她从将军府替嫁过来了,果然是杯具呀!
  • 物来顺应:梁漱溟传及访谈录

    物来顺应:梁漱溟传及访谈录

    本书根据对梁漱溟老人的访谈整理而成,书中有少年立志救国参加同盟会,说自己的两次自杀经过……等七篇文章,再现风雨岁月,梁漱溟人生旅程的沧桑和其耿介率直,不同于流俗的人格形象。
  • 倾世狂妃:逆天四小姐
  • 宠冠天下:漓王,来接驾

    宠冠天下:漓王,来接驾

    重生一世,某男变得主动了怎么办?前世她入敌国当奸细,遇见了他;沙场再见,他却为她杀死了自己。本想好好补偿,没想到最后却补偿到被吃抹干净。她是戚叶国隐世家族继承人,他是云辰国皇族皇子。人前,某男清冷高贵;人后,霸道的把她圈在怀里。“风墨漓,我们是敌人关系!”男人凤眸微微眯起,一字一句:“那又如何?你、是、我、的。”【甜宠文,男女双洁。放心入坑,么么哒~】
  • 重生之庶女为后

    重生之庶女为后

    她是国际一流的特工,辗转高层政治、上流社会的政治间谍,不料在一次行动中遭自己最信任的人所背叛,无奈只能魂归黄泉。重生而来成为被嫡母精心算计致死的镇国大将军府的庶出四小姐;‘散漫王爷’旭王从小谕旨亲赐的嫡妃;天下第一美人的女儿,风姿卓越,貌美动人,更胜亡母当年风姿。重新而活,从此她一改往日病态,大宅之中察言观色,洞悉一切,步步为营,斗嫡母,了断渣姐,粉碎渣男。江山天下,遇见他,为他一句话,争权夺利,谋略江山,伴他君临天下。他说:“我要让天下匍匐在我们的脚下,而你是我唯一的皇后。”【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 侯门庶女

    侯门庶女

    今生,她是侯门幼女,前尘未忘,惟愿今生岁月静好,现世安稳。他是皇族贵胄,断情冷性,欲握江山万里,俯瞰天下。却不知,月老的情丝已成乱,他们之间还有一个他,从此爱恨情仇,致死方休。如此这般,七世情劫,即使度过又如何,心已残,情已尽,爱、恨、痴、狂,都做枉然罢;自此,今夕,何夕,尘世来去,不若归去,不如归去。
  • 为创新而生:一个新型科研机构的成长DNA解密

    为创新而生:一个新型科研机构的成长DNA解密

    中国科研院所的“混血”式创新典范,让科学家“名利双收”,让高科技真正接地气,让海归不做祖国发展的局外人!从机器人、大数据到脑科学,新一轮科技浪潮冲击着中国大地的时代,在中国南海岸这片创新热土上,中国新生代科学家的智慧怎样实现“裂变式生长”?本书解密中科院深圳先进技术研究院的成长DNA,历时九个月深入采访,带你走近中国最具朝气、最富生命力的新型科研机构。讲述这个国家级科研平台如何经过短短十年的发展,迅速崛起为国际顶级科研人才高地;有“人才伯乐”美誉的院长樊建平如何慧眼识人,如何创新体制,让先进院只身打马过草原,骑到新世界的背上!
  • 能说会做决定你的一生

    能说会做决定你的一生

    有见地的人都会说能力重于学历,其实口才更重于能力。身在一个竞争异常激烈的社会中,如果没有说服别人的能力,没有推销自己的良好口才,也难免落个终生郁郁不得志的结局。很多人是败在口才而不是能力上。
  • 玩主

    玩主

    薛飞在进入游戏之后,意外来到魔法大陆。作为修真者,他自此与天斗,其乐无穷;与怪斗,其乐无穷;与玩家斗,其乐也无穷。
  • 席少,你命中缺我

    席少,你命中缺我

    “嫁给我!”被逼走投无路,一纸婚约,她转眼成为京城人人艳羡的名门少夫人!他是不近女色杀伐果决的神秘权少,却唯独把她捧在手心里疼宠。虐白莲花,吊打渣男,一步步走上人生巅峰。